Welcome

Assistant Principal: Jo Zarb, Post 16/DSL KS5

Post 16/KS5

Welcome to Key Stage 5

Welcome to Post-16. We offer a challenging, yet supportive environment, where all students are encouraged to maximise their knowledge and skills, including both self-confidence and personal aspirations, and so enable their future participation in both local communities and wider society.

Post-16 values pupil voice and individuality, and through a person centred approach, involves all individual students and their tutor groups in organisation and planning. The Post-16 Form is represented on the Academy Council.

Close liaison and partnership working with parents and/or carers is also important to us; regular contact with the school is appreciated as is support for school activities and events.

All students perceive themselves as being both Post-16 students, and members of the academy.

Charlton Park Academy is partly modern and purpose built, and also includes an older, largely refurbished, school building, together with well-maintained demountable classrooms. The Post-16 suite is separate from the main school, which helps to foster a clear identity as both a part of the academy, but also a separate provision within this. From time to time, depending upon needs and abilities, several tutor groups may be based in classrooms within more mainstream provisions, but they remain a part of Charlton Park Academy.

Specialist rooms and provisions on
the academy site include:

Food Technology

Sports Halls

Hydrotherapy Pool

Sensory Room

Exercise Gym

Sensory Garden

Design Technology

Art

There is also a small residential unit, Rainbow House, of which we are very proud. It was judged ‘Outstanding’ (January 2018) on its last inspection. The unit operates Monday to Friday term-time only, and can accommodate up to eight students aged 11-19, placement is via recommendation and governing body decision.

There are both internal and external CCTV cameras, which can be monitored and continually film the premises.

Academy Safety and Security

The school, has a modern security system which requires the front door to be opened from inside for visitors to be admitted – school staff have electronic key cards, which also serve as their photographic identity cards. All visitors are signed-in, and asked to wear badges; contractors and other workmen are accompanied and supervised. There are both internal and external CCTV cameras, which can be monitored and continually film the premises. There is a modern and regularly tested fire alarm system, and well-practiced evacuation routes – with the electronic internal doors opening automatically if an alarm is sounded. The playgrounds and external areas are fenced and secure.

The school has its own team of premises staff, who strive to keep the site safe and secure. There is also a well-established system of health and safety, including risk assessment as appropriate. All staff and students are expected to work towards keeping themselves and others safe, including being careful to close locked doors and gates. It is a requirement that all staff are checked upon appointment, including identify confirmation, references and enhanced disclosures.

Local authorities are required to secure sufficient suitable education and training provision for young people with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) up to the age of 25. However, planning post-16 provision for young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) is complex. Local authorities therefore need to have a robust evidence base to resolve any gaps in provision, but there has been an absence of good quality information on both demand and supply. Read more …